CBC’s Dragons’ Den Adds Joe Fresh Founder Joe Mimran

It’s going to be a very different season when CBC‘s Dragons’ Den returns, and adding to the new mix is Joe Fresh founder Joe Mimran.

Fresh off the news that he is stepping down from Joe Fresh, the Dragons’ Den gets a new Dragon, and one that is sure to be an interesting addition.

The show, which for my money has more interesting pitches than Shark Tank, will be starting its 10th season, and with news that Arlene Dickinson won’t be returning, needed a Dragon that can keep hold of the show’s broad base.

CBC announced today that Joe Fresh founder Joe Mimran will join the upcoming 10th season of DRAGONS’ DEN. The new season of DRAGONS’ DEN will air in fall 2015.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Joe Mimran to DRAGONS’ DEN,” said Jennifer Dettman, executive director, Unscripted Content, CBC. “Joe is a giant in fashion retail in this country. As the brains behind some of Canada’s most successful brands, he’s a welcome addition to the Den.”

“I’m thrilled to join DRAGONS’ DEN, one of the most entertaining and dynamic shows on television,” said Joe Mimran. “I’ve been starting businesses since I was in university, and this is the perfect opportunity to share that lifelong passion and experience with young entrepreneurs. I look forward to working with the other Dragons, hearing some great pitches and hopefully bringing the next great Canadian business idea to life.

Throughout his storied career, Joe Mimran has founded and built brands that helped define the industry landscape, including Joe Fresh, Club Monaco, Alfred Sung, Caban and—with his wife, Kimberley Newport-Mimran—Pink Tartan. With an intuitive design vision and a keen business sense, Mimran has been at the forefront of fashion and retail for over thirty years.

As founder and former creative director of Joe Fresh for Loblaw Companies Limited, Mimran oversaw the brand’s design, merchandising and retail concepts. Under Mimran’s guidance, Joe Fresh has grown to become Canada’s second largest apparel brand, encompassing women’s, men’s, children’s, baby and beauty collections. Additionally, Mimran oversaw creative direction of Home and Entertainment brands for Loblaw, including PC Home, Life at Home, Everyday Essentials, Jump Kids World, Jogi and Tera Gear, among others.

Mimran is also a private investor in Canada-based businesses, ranging from steel to pharmaceuticals. Educated at York University and the University of Windsor, Mimran joined the family dress manufacturing business in 1977. The company marketed several labels, including its marquee Alfred Sung line. The business grew rapidly from a small rented factory to a 50,000 square-foot space on King Street and was renamed Monaco Group in 1981. A longtime collector and patron of the arts, Mimran’s wide-ranging philanthropic activities include support of the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards and Nuit Blanche. Additionally, he was co-chair of the 2014 Big Bang Bash benefiting Toronto’s popular Luminato Festival.

Big things are in store for the anticipated 10th season of DRAGONS’ DEN, which will feature top entrepreneurs, innovative business pitches and new Dragons. Further details about the 10th season of DRAGONS’ DEN will be announced in the coming weeks.

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Marc Eastman is the owner and operator of Are You Screening? and has been writing film reviews for over a decade, and several branches of the internet's film review world have seen his name. He is also a member of The Broadcast Film Critics Association and The Broadcast Television Journalists Association.